Massaging mechanism



April 23, 5 I ANDIS 1 ,998,696

MASSAGING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 4, 1951 8!! M y m attorneys Patented Apr. 23, 1 935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MASSAGIEZZZBZI IANISM I r V Application 12:11: 2 123? 8233 1 20. 572,923

ZCIaims.

My invention relates to improvements in massaging mechanisms, with particular reference to that class of mechanisms in which a set of massaging tools or so-called applicators are to be vibrated in contact with the skin of the patient.

The object of my invention is to provide means for removing and replacing inexpensive applicators with such facility that each applicator may be thrown away upon completion of the massaging operation and other applicators substituted for the next patient,-thus making transmission of disease impossible.

Further objects are to provide the vibratory mechanism with a detachable coupling member adapted for interlocking engagement with the applicators, and to provide the applicators with standardized sockets to receive the couplingmemher and interlock therewith in such a manner that the applicator will be adequately held during a massaging operation.

Further objects are to provide improved coverings for the coupling member whereby the same may be kept in a perfectly sanitary condition and the working parts of the driving mechanism adequately protected, the coupling member being adapted to be removed and cleansed after each massaging operation.

In the drawing: 1

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an electromagnetically operated massaging mechanism equipped with my improved coupling and with dotted lines indicating the connection of a bell-shaped applicator therewith.

Figures 2 and 3 are side elevations of interchangeable applicators with their socketed portions in section drawn to planes intersecting their sockets.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

The casing i0, electromagnet I I, armature I2, and the vibratory post l3 extending through a tubular boss I4 on one wall of the casing, are similar to the corresponding parts illustrated and described in my Patent No. 928,612, issued Oct. 3, 1933. For the purposes of this application these parts may be assumed to be of ordinary construction except as hereinafter described.

It will be observed that the vibratory post {3 has a threaded socket in its outer end to receive a screw l5 having an enlarged shank I 1 and a polygonal portion l8 embedded in a headpiece l9 preferably formed-of hard rubber or other suitable composition material capable of being cast upon the metal portions I! and I 8 of the connector. This headpiece I8 is preferably provided with a roughened or milled band 20 to facilitatescrewing the connector into engagement with the post l3.

An apertured cap 2|, preferably of rubber, is fitted over the tubular boss I! with its aperture in a position to allow the screw l5 to extend there- 5 through into engagement withthe post 13, the margins of the cap 2| fitting snugly about the connector at the base of the screw. The enlarged portion 11 of the connector is preferably beveled or conically tapered so as to readily enter the aperture in the cap and distend the marginal material sufficiently to ensure a close fit.

A head member I9 is provided with a knob 24, having a neck 25 of relatively small diameter and an annular flange at its extremity. The axis of 15 the knob is preferably coincident with the axis of the connector and of the vibratory post l3, and the face of the head piece I! around the knob is preferably flat. The outer surface of the knob is also substantially flat, whereby broad bearing surfaces in two different planes are provided for the flexibleapplicator.

Each applicator member 28, 29 or 30 is provided with a socket 21 which corresponds in contour with the knob 24 and neck 25, and the sock- 25 eted portion of each applicator is formed of resilient material, vulcanized rubber being preferred, whereby it may be engaged with the knob by manual pressure applied to stretch the neckengaging portion in order to allow the knob to pass into the enlarged knob receiving portion of the socket.

The bell-shaped applicator 28 disclosed in Fig.

1, the pronged applicator 29 disclosed in Fig. 2, and the applicator 30 having a sponge rubber face 3| as shown in Fig. 3, have a hub portion 32 in which the socket 21 is formed, and while this hub portion may be sufliciently resilient to allow it to be readily stretched over the knob, its tension is suflicient to hold it firmly in engagement with 0 the knob during a massaging operation.

The entire applicator contains only .a small quantity of material whereby each applicator may be thrown away and a similar applicator substituted with little, if any, expense in excess of that required for cleansing applicators in an antiseptic bath after each massaging operation.

By my improvement it is not only possible to' discard each applicator after a single massaging operation, but it is also possible to remove the 5 connector and cleanse it after each operation. The connector will ordinarily be restored and repeatedly used with new applicators or massaging tools in successive massaging operations. However, the connector is also comparatively inexpensive and may be discarded and another connector substituted whenever extreme precautions are to be taken against the transfer of disease. By making the connectors readily detachable from the actuating mechanism and its casing, complete replacement as well as complete cleansing of connectors are facilitated.

I claim:

1. The combination with a power driven vibrator having an applicator supporting post and means for axially vibrating the same, a metallic connector member removably engageable with the outer end of said post, a non-metallic head-piece permanently interlocked with said connector, said headpiece having a substantially flat seating surface and an axially extending knob-like projec tion, including a neck and a flanged extremity provided with a substantially flat seating surface and an applicator socketed to receive said knob and provided with a resilient annular member adapted to engage the neck portion 0! the knob and to be resiliently distended under manual pressure to permit engagement and disengagement of the knob in said socket.

2. The combination with a casing, an electromagnetic motor therein, a vibratory post actuated by the motor and projecting through the wall of the casing, a connector adapted to be axially secured to the post and having a conically tapered portion at the junction of the connector with the post, and a flexible cap having a vibratory web portion centrally apertured to receive said conically tapered portion of the connector and to be engaged between it and the end 01 the post, said connector having at its outer end a hard rubber headpiece provided with a knob adapted to be engaged interchangeably with socketed applicators said headpiece and knob having substantially flat bearing surfaces in different planes, whereby they are adapted to support flexible applicators against objectionable lateral distortion and displacement during massaging operations.

MATHEW 

